U.S. patent application number 15/919383 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-13 for pencil gauge with digital display.
This patent application is currently assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to Carey C. Costle, Chad Ellman, Brendan P. Kelso, Nolan Mott, Brendan Sangster.
Application Number | 20180259412 15/919383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63444679 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180259412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sangster; Brendan ; et
al. |
September 13, 2018 |
PENCIL GAUGE WITH DIGITAL DISPLAY
Abstract
A pencil tire gauge with a tubular pencil gauge housing and
having a first end and an opposite second end with a linear
longitudinal centerline axis through a center of the first end and
second end. The first end has a nozzle inlet on the longitudinal
centerline and adapted to receive a tire valve stem. The first end
and nozzle inlet are on and tilted offset with respect to the
longitudinal centerline, and the nozzle inlet is offset at an angle
of less than about 10.degree..
Inventors: |
Sangster; Brendan; (San Luis
Obispo, CA) ; Costle; Carey C.; (Tucson, AZ) ;
Kelso; Brendan P.; (Atascadero, CA) ; Mott;
Nolan; (Paso Robles, CA) ; Ellman; Chad;
(Avila Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. |
Glenview |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Glenview
IL
|
Family ID: |
63444679 |
Appl. No.: |
15/919383 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62470619 |
Mar 13, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01L 17/00 20130101;
B67B 7/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01L 17/00 20060101
G01L017/00; B67B 7/16 20060101 B67B007/16 |
Claims
1. A tire gauge, comprising: a pencil gauge housing; a nozzle inlet
at a first end of the housing and adapted to receive a tire valve
stem; a pressure detection mechanism disposed within the housing; a
digital display attached to a side of the housing and in display
combination with the pressure detection mechanism.
2. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein the housing is
cylindrical.
3. The tire gauge of claim 2, wherein the housing is tapered toward
the nozzle inlet.
4. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein the housing is a cast metal
housing.
5. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein the nozzle inlet comprises a
pin, and the nozzle inlet and the pin are each slanted at an angle
of 0.degree. to about 10.degree. relative to and across a
longitudinal centerline of the housing.
6. The tire gauge of claim 5, wherein a plane of the first end of
the housing is formed at a non-perpendicular angle to the
longitudinal axis of the housing and perpendicular to the pin.
7. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein the first end of the housing
comprises a light emitting diode.
8. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a
sliding and/or spring loaded pressure bleeding valve.
9. The tire gauge of claim 1, wherein a second end of the housing
comprises a battery compartment and a removable cap, wherein the
cap comprises a bottle opener.
10. A tire gauge, comprising: a tubular pencil gauge housing having
a first end and an opposite second end, and including a cylindrical
section toward the second end and a tapered section extending from
the cylindrical section toward the first end, wherein the first end
has a diameter that is less than the second end; a nozzle inlet at
the first end and adapted to receive a tire valve stem; a pressure
detection mechanism disposed within the housing; a digital display
attached to a side of the cylindrical section and in display
combination with the pressure detection mechanism.
11. The tire gauge of claim 10, wherein the nozzle inlet is tilted
offset across and at an angle .alpha. with respect to a
longitudinal centerline of the housing of about 10.degree. or less,
and the first end is tilted offset across and at a
non-perpendicular angle with respect to a linear longitudinal
centerline of the housing.
12. The tire gauge of claim 11, wherein the nozzle inlet comprises
a pin disposed at the angle to the longitudinal centerline, and a
plane of a surface of the first end of the housing is offset to the
centerline and perpendicular to the pin.
13. The tire gauge of claim 10, wherein the tapered section
comprises a sliding and/or spring loaded pressure bleeding
valve.
14. The tire gauge of claim 13, wherein the pressure bleeding valve
is coaxially aligned with the digital display on an outer surface
of the housing.
15. The tire gauge of claim 13, wherein each of the pressure
bleeding valve and the digital display is setback in a
corresponding recess in the outer surface of the housing.
16. The tire gauge of claim 13, wherein the first end of the
housing comprises a light emitting diode.
17. The tire gauge of claim 16, wherein a second end of the housing
comprises a battery compartment and a removable cap, wherein the
cap comprises a bottle opener.
18. The tire gauge of claim 17, wherein the nozzle inlet is
disposed slanted at an angle of 5.degree. with respect to a
longitudinal centerline of the housing, and the first end is offset
with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the housing to be
perpendicular to a centerline of the nozzle inlet.
19. The tire gauge of claim 18, further comprising a clip attached
at the second end and extending along the cylindrical section.
20. A tire gauge, comprising: a metal pencil gauge housing having a
first end and an opposite second end along a longitudinal
centerline of the housing, the housing including a cylindrical
section toward the second end and a tapered section extending from
the cylindrical section toward the first end, wherein the first end
has a diameter less than the second end; a nozzle inlet at the
first end and adapted to receive a tire valve stem, the nozzle
including a pin, wherein the first end, the nozzle inlet, and the
pin are each intersected by the longitudinal centerline of the
housing and each is slanted offset at an angle of about 2.degree.
to about 10.degree. with respect to the housing; a digital display
attached to a side of the cylindrical section; and a sliding and/or
spring loaded pressure bleeding valve coaxially aligned with the
digital display on an outer surface of the housing.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/470,619, filed on 13 Mar. 2017. This U.S.
Provisional Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not
limited to those portions which specifically appear
hereinafter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a gauge device for determining
pressure within an object such as a tire or other inflated object,
and more particularly to a handheld pencil gauge.
Description of Prior Art
[0003] There are many different pressure gauges for determining
tire pressure. One type of pressure gauge is referred to as a
"pencil gauge", due to a pencil-like size and shape. U.S. Pat. No.
3,067,618 shows a representative pencil tire pressure gauge where a
spring-loaded pressure indicator bar with readable numbers is moved
outward at one end by air entering through a piston at an opposite
head end.
[0004] Pencil tire gauges are popular due to the small size and
ease of use. There is thus a continuing need for improved pencil
tire gauges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an apparatus for determining
pressure within an object such as a tire or other inflated object.
In embodiments of this invention, the apparatus is a pencil gauge
for checking a tire pressure. The gauge has a pencil style housing
for holding in a user's hand, and is easily storable in a pocket or
toolbox, etc. The gauge and/or its housing desirably have a single
constant and linear longitudinal center axis between a first nozzle
end and an opposing second end. The gauge has a nozzle inlet at a
first end of the housing that corresponds to and receives a tire
valve stem. A pressure detection mechanism is disposed within the
housing and provides a pressure measurement that is displayed on a
digital display attached to a side of the housing.
[0006] In embodiments of this invention, the housing is tubular,
desirably a metal cylindrical tube, and tapered toward the nozzle
end. The nozzle end of the gauge is desirably centered on the
centerline and facing a direction between 0.degree. and 10.degree.
relative to the centerline. The nozzle end is desirably smaller in
diameter than the remainder of the gauge or housing, thereby
providing a sleek, non-bulbous look without a widened nozzle head.
To improve use, the nozzle inlet and/or nozzle end of the gauge is
disposed in a slanted or angled orientation on and with respect to
the central longitudinal axis of the gauge housing.
[0007] The invention includes a tire gauge with a tubular pencil
gauge housing and having a first end and an opposite second end,
and including a cylindrical section toward the second end and a
tapered section extending from the cylindrical section toward the
first end. The first end has a diameter that is less than the
second end, and a nozzle inlet adapted to receive a tire valve
stem. The gauge and housing desirably have a single constant and
linear longitudinal centerline axis between and through the first
end and the opposing second end. The nozzle inlet is tilted offset
across and desirably at an angle with respect to a longitudinal
centerline of the housing of less than about 10.degree.. The first
end is desirably centered on, but tilted offset across and at a
non-perpendicular angle with respect to, a longitudinal centerline
of the housing.
[0008] The invention also includes a tire gauge with a metal pencil
gauge housing and having a first end and an opposite second end
along a longitudinal centerline of the housing. The housing has a
cylindrical section toward the second end and a tapered section
extending from the cylindrical section toward the first end, with
the first end having a diameter that is less than the second end. A
nozzle inlet at the first end includes a pin, and the nozzle inlet
and the pin are each intersected by the longitudinal centerline of
the housing and each slanted offset at an angle of about 2.degree.
to about 10.degree. with respect to the longitudinal centerline of
the housing. The first end is also angled to correspond to the
nozzle end pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this
invention will be better understood from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pressure gauge according to one
embodiment of this invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the pressure gauge according to FIG.
1;
[0012] FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the pressure gauge
according to FIG. 1;
[0013] FIGS. 5 and 6 are opposing end views of the pressure gauge
according to FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side view of a pressure gauge according to one
embodiment of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIGS. 1-6 show a tire pressure gauge 20, also referred to as
a tire gauge, according to one embodiment of this invention. The
gauge 20 is a pencil gauge having a pencil gauge housing 22. As
used herein, references to "pencil" or "pencil gauge" are to be
understood as referring to a gauge configuration having a
pencil-like shape, in that the gauge has a long, slender shape
about the size of a pencil and that can be held in a hand like a
pencil.
[0016] The housing 22 is tubular and encloses a chamber for gauge
components. The tubular housing 22 can have any suitable cross
sectional shape, such as, without limitation, a circle, triangle or
square, but it is desirably cylindrical as shown. The gauge 20 has
a first end 24 and an opposite second end 26, each positioned
centered on a linear longitudinal axis or centerline 25 of the
gauge 20. The housing 22 preferably is at least partially tapered
about the longitudinal centerline 25 and toward the first end 24,
such as providing the first end 24 with a diameter that is less
than the second end 26. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the
gauge 20 and housing 22 include a cylindrical section 30 toward the
second end 26 and a tapered section 32 extending from the
cylindrical section 30 toward the first end 24. The cylindrical
section 30 desirably has a constant internal and/or external
diameter, and the transition from the cylindrical section 30 to the
tapered section 32 is at or about the midpoint along the
longitudinal length of the gauge 20 or housing 22. In preferred
embodiments of this invention, the housing is a cast metal housing,
although the housing can include or be fully formed of plastic as
well.
[0017] In embodiments of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the
external surface of the tapered section 32 decreases in diameter
from the cylindrical section 30 through and at the first end 24. As
such, there is no bulbous or widened head at the first end 24, as
is common in conventional pencil tire gauges. The first end 24 of
the housing 22 is elliptical due to the angled configuration, as
shown in FIG. 5, with a center of the ellipse (or circle or other
suitable shape) at or on the longitudinal centerline 25 of the
housing 22 and with an outer surface diameter that is less than the
cylindrical section 30 and the second end 26. In embodiments of the
invention, the first end 24 can be formed integrally to the housing
22 or formed by a separate nozzle head 36 attached, such as by
threaded attachment 38, to the gauge 20 or the remainder of the
housing 22. The outer surface of a separate nozzle head 36 is
desirably tapered to match the rest of the tapered section 22 and
continues the decreasing outer diameter of the tapered section 32
to the first end 24, which has a diameter smaller than the housing
22 at attachment 38.
[0018] As best shown in FIG. 5, the gauge 20 includes a nozzle
inlet 40 at the first end 24. The nozzle inlet 40 is adapted to
receive a tire valve stem, and can be or receive a Schrader,
Dunlop, or Presta valve, depending on need. The nozzle inlet 40 of
FIG. 5 includes a cylindrical recess 42 for receiving an end of a
Schrader tire valve stem. A pin 44 within the recess 42 connects to
a corresponding pin of the tire valve stem to open both the tire
valve and an air passage adjacent or about the pin 42 to allow air
into the gauge 20 for pressure measuring. The pin mechanism can be
any suitable pin/valve mechanism known in the art of tire gauges,
and can be connected to a sealing element, such as forming a
piston, to open an air passageway of the gauge 20. As shown in FIG.
5, embodiments of this invention desirably include a light 28 at
the first end 24 of the housing to light the tire valve stem for
ease of use. The light 28 is preferably a light emitting diode of
any suitable color that can be activated by a switch or button on
the housing 22 or at the first end 24 or second end 26.
[0019] The nozzle inlet 40, nozzle recess 42, and pin 44 can be
positioned straight in parallel alignment with and along the
longitudinal centerline 25 of the gauge 20. In an alternative
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, at least the nozzle recess 42 and
pin 44, and desirable also the nozzle head 36 and/or first end 24,
are each angled with respect to the centerline 25 to promote use in
connecting to a tire stem. In embodiments of this invention, the
nozzle recess 42 and pin 44 is slanted at an angle .alpha. to or
from the longitudinal centerline 25, as shown in FIG. 1. In
currently preferred embodiments of this invention, angle .alpha. is
or is less than about 10.degree. (e.g., between 0.degree. and about
10.degree.), desirably about 2.degree. to about 10.degree., and
preferably about 5.degree..
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle recess 42 and pin 44 are
still positioned along and/or on the centerline 25, with the
centerline 25 intersecting the nozzle recess 42 and pin 44 in the
tilted or slanted position that has them extending over and across
the centerline 25. As shown in FIG. 1, in embodiments of this
invention, the first end 24 of the gauge is at a non-perpendicular
angle to and across the centerline 25, tilted in the same direction
as the nozzle inlet 40 and pin 44 shown in FIG. 5 and forms a
slight non-circular ellipse. The angled first end 24 of the housing
22 and/or nozzle head 36 promotes use in the same manner as the
angled nozzle inlet 40. The angled first end 24 is preferably
angled .alpha. corresponding amount to the angled nozzle inlet 40,
wherein a first end surface plane 45 is perpendicular to a
centerline of the nozzle inlet 40 and pin 42. As shown in FIG. 1,
an end plane 45 of the first end 24 is offset at the angle .beta.,
such as less than 10.degree. and preferably about 5.degree., from a
plane 35 perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline 25. In
embodiments of this invention, the angle .beta. is equal to the
angle .alpha., and the first end 24 surface plane 45 is disposed
perpendicular to a centerline axis of the nozzle recess 42 and pin
44.
[0021] The gauge 20 includes a digital display 50 attached to and
viewable on a side of the housing 22. The digital display 50 is in
display combination with a pressure detection mechanism within the
housing 22. During use, air from a tire enters the housing 22
through the nozzle inlet 40 and the pressure detection mechanism
measures the air pressure and the measured air pressure is
displayed on the digital display 50. Any suitable display can be
incorporated, such as a LCD display set in recess 52. The internal
pressure detection mechanism can be any suitable mechanism, such
as, without limitation, a strain gauge. With a strain gauge, air
from the tire goes into the housing 22 and pushes against the
strain gauge. The resultant flexing of the strain gauge changes its
resistance. This resistance change is input to a microprocessor
where the resistance change is converted to a binary signal used to
drive LCD readout.
[0022] The second end 26 of the gauge 20 includes an internal
battery compartment and a removable cap 52 for access to the
battery compartment. The cap 52 is preferably a threaded cap that
screws onto the cylindrical section 30 at the second end 26 to
complete the housing 22, but can alternatively be, for example, a
snap or twist lock cap. The cap 52 of FIG. 1 has a further function
of securing on the separately formed clip 56 at the second end 26.
The clip 56, which can be useful for hooking to a pocket or other
object, extends along the cylindrical section 30 of the housing 22
and includes a ring end 57 that is inserted over a threaded end of
the housing 22 and secured by the tightened cap 52. The cap 52 can
further include integrated functional elements, such as a bottle
opener 58 shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 6.
[0023] The gauge 20 of FIG. 1 further includes a pressure release
valve 60. The valve 60 is used for emptying the air pressure from
the housing 22, such as for resetting the pressure detection
mechanism and display 50 or letting air out of an over-inflated
tire. Any suitable release valve can be incorporated. The
embodiment of FIG. 1 includes a sliding and/or spring loaded
pressure bleeder 62 disposed in recess 64 and movable within
channel 66 to open the bleeder 62. The bleeder 62 is coaxially
aligned with the digital display 50 along one side of an outer
surface of the housing 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the
display 50 is within the cylindrical section 30 and the valve 62 is
within the tapered section 32. Various sizes, shapes and
configurations are available for the valve and the display,
depending on need.
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a pencil gauge 120 according to another
embodiment of this invention. The gauge 120 of FIG. 7 includes a
patterned grip 115 along the tapered section 132 of the housing
122. The pressure release valve 160 includes a slide element 162
for manually opening the valve 160. The pressure release valve 160
is offset from the display 150 by 90 degrees, and is shown
coaxially aligned with the clip 156 along a `top` of the housing
122.
[0025] While in the foregoing specification this invention has been
described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and
many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the device and
placard are susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain
of the details described herein can be varied considerably without
departing from the basic principles of the invention.
* * * * *